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The Early Ploughman

Etching
ca.1861 - 1867 (etched), 1926 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Palmer, Samuel (etcher)
Place of origin
England (etched)

Rural scene showing a ploughman driving a pair of oxen, with plough, towards the left of the image. Birds are taking flight above a bridge to the left of the scene and a figure holding a pot on their head is standing by a line of trees to the right.

Impression from a cancelled plate, with a vertical line engraved through the centre of the design.

Object details

Categories
Prints
Printmaking Techniques
Object type
Etching
Titles
  • The Early Ploughman (assigned by artist)
  • The Morning Spread upon the Mountains (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Etching
Paper
Printing Ink
Etching (Printing Process)
Brief description
'The Early Ploughman' (also known as 'The Morning Spread upon the Mountains'). Rural scene showing a ploughman driving a pair of oxen as the sun rises behind the hillside. Etching by Samuel Palmer, England, ca.1861-1867. Printed from the cancelled plate in 1926.
Physical description
Rural scene showing a ploughman driving a pair of oxen, with plough, towards the left of the image. Birds are taking flight above a bridge to the left of the scene and a figure holding a pot on their head is standing by a line of trees to the right.

Impression from a cancelled plate, with a vertical line engraved through the centre of the design.
Dimensions
  • Plate impression (approx) height: 18cm
  • Plate impression (approx) width: 25cm
Marks and inscriptions
A small etched triangle in the lower margin on the left.
Credit line
Presented by A. H. Palmer, Esq.
Object history
This is an impression from the cancelled plate, defaced by a vertical line engraved through the centre of the plate. In 1926 75 impressions, on specially chosen old paper, were printed under the supervision of Sir Frank Short, R.A., P.R.E., R.I., Martin Hardie, R.I., R.E. and F. L. Griggs, A.R.A., R.E., before the cancelling of the plate. A small etched triangle was added in the lower margin on the left, to identify the final printing.
Subjects depicted
Agriculture
Oxen
Ploughmen
Rural Scenes
Landscape
Ploughing
Plough
Birds
Bridge
Trees
Pot
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Catalogue of an Exhibition of Drawings, Etchings & Woodcuts by Samuel Palmer and other Disciples of William Blake October 20 - December 31, 1926. London : Published under the authority of the Board of Education, 1926. Publication No. 178 E.I.D.
  • Catalogue of an Exhibition of Drawings, Etchings & Woodcuts by Samuel Palmer and other Disciples of William Blake October 20 - December 31, 1926. London : Published under the authority of the Board of Education, 1926. Publication No. 178 E.I.D. pp.79-80.
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1926, London: Board of Education, 1927.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.1463-1926

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O761814/the-early-ploughman-etching-palmer-samuel/
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